There’s a lot of admin to do at the start of a new year and thinking about your health might not be top of your to-do list. It’s a good idea to register with a doctor’s surgery, often called a GP – short for General Practitioner - close to where you’re living.
Registering when you move in means that if you need an appointment you’re already set up. If you wait until you need to see a doctor, registering might delay the time it takes to get help.
Where should I register?
You’ve got a few options. There’s the King’s College NHS Health Centre at Bush House, South East Wing, which is a specialist NHS GP practice for all current students of KCL. They are a GP practice carefully designed to care for the student population as well as providing all essential services other GPs do. Though based at King’s they are a separate NHS service which follows NHS confidentiality. You can register with King’s College NHS Health Centre online.
If you commute and want to register with a GP local to your home address then you can find a GP on the NHS website – just type your postcode in and follow the instructions on the website for registering.
If you were registered at another NHS GP practice before moving to university, you’ll no longer be registered there. So, if you’re currently having ongoing treatment, it’s a good idea to discuss moving this before registering to make sure you get continuous care.
International students
When you come to the UK as an international student, paying the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) allows you to use the NHS in the same way as UK nationals and residents. Most services are free, like GP appointments or visits to A&E, but some services are paid for. If you’ve paid the IHS you’ll still need to register with a GP before you can use the service.
There are some exceptions to this. If your programme of study is less than six months, you’ll need private health insurance as you’ll be expected to pay for any medical treatment you receive, except in limited emergency situations. Talk to your insurance provider about what’s covered and what isn’t. You can still register with a GP while you’re here but you’ll register as a temporary patient.
Did you know King’s has a Health Advisor for Mandarin-Speaking Students (HAMSS) who can advise on where to access health-related support? Find out more in our article How can the Health Advisor for Mandarin-Speaking Students support me?
Where else can I get help?
The best place to get advice and treatment for common illnesses, like colds, coughs and hayfever, is at a pharmacy. Pharmacies often have a wider range of medicine available than a supermarket does.
If you’re not sure about your symptoms or how to manage them, you can also check NHS 111 online. You’ll be asked a series of questions about how you’re feeling and given advice on what to do next.
Dentists
You can find a dentist on the NHS website. Many dentists currently have waiting lists to register as a new patient, you might need to call the dental practice to ask whether they can accept new patients if you can’t find registration information online.
Opticians
Opticians are separate to GPs and can help with regular eye tests if you wear glasses or contact lenses, as well as checking the health of your eyes. If you’re getting headaches or eye strain, it’s a good idea to get your eyes tested. You can find an optician on the NHS website.
It’s likely you’ll need to pay for your eye test and glasses or contact lenses but you can check your eligibility for free NHS eye tests online.
Mental health
It’s always a good idea to talk to someone if you’re struggling but it can be difficult to know where to begin. The mental health charity Mind has a useful guide to seeking help for your mental health, including when to get help, how to have a conversation about your mental health and where you can seek support.
While you can access support from services at King’s like the Faculty Wellbeing Advisors and the Counselling and Mental Health Support Service, you can also speak to your GP about your mental health.
You can refer yourself for NHS talking therapies services for help with some common mental health problems. You can do this on the NHS website - Find a talking therapies service.
If you feel like you can’t keep yourself safe and you are in immediate danger of harming yourself or attempting to take your life, go to your nearest A&E or call 999. There are services who can support you if you’re feeling suicidal or experiencing a mental health crisis, check the crisis support webpages.
Sexual health
Sexual health includes your reproductive health, contraception (birth control) and sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
There are lots of types of contraception available, it’s important to choose the right one for you. Your GP can help you to find the right type of contraception and you can also read about contraception on the NHS website to make an informed decision.
Condoms are the only type of contraception that can protect from both unplanned pregnancy and STIs. You can register for the C-Card scheme to access free condoms from services displaying the C-Card logo.
If you’re sexually active, it’s a good idea to get tested for STIs regularly. You can do this at a sexual health clinic, or at your GP. The King’s NHS Health Centre provides testing kits for those without symptoms in the toilets.
If you prefer, you can order an online STI testing kit through SHL. This gets delivered to you in discrete packaging and you’ll be sent a text with your results.
People who menstruate can find free period products in female, gender-neutral and accessible toilets on all campuses. For a list of locations, check What period products are available on campus?
In an emergency
If you, or someone else, is seriously ill or injured you should call 999. You’ll be asked to explain what the emergency is and where you are.